Game and fish-lifetime license elimination.

WORKING DRAFT
2014
STATE OF
WYOMING
14LSO-0407

HOUSE BILL
NO.

HB0129

Game and fish-lifetime license elimination.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Burkhart

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
game and fish; eliminating lifetime fishing, small game and game bird licenses; eliminating lifetime conservation stamps; providing for grandfathering of ownership of those licenses; making conforming amendments;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S.
23
‑
1
‑
705(
d), 23
‑
2
‑
101(a)
and
23
‑
2
‑
201
(a)
and (f)
are amended to read:

23
‑
1
‑
705.

Complimentary licenses; one-shot antelope hunt licenses; gunpowder and buckskin hunt licenses; gratuitous licenses; donated licenses.

(d)

The department shall issue without charge
lifetime
bird, small game and fish licenses to any resident
or honorably discharged veteran who is over sixty-five (65) years and who has continuously resided in Wyoming for at least the thirty (30) years immediately preceding application for the license, or to any disabled veteran who is one hundred percent (100%) disabled as determined by the United States department of veteran affairs. The license is valid so long as the licensee remains a Wyoming resident.

23
‑
2
‑
101.

Fees; restrictions; nonresident application fee; nonresident licenses; verification of residency required.

(a)

Any qualified person may purchase a hunting license from the department or its authorized selling agents except as otherwise provided. Purchase of a license entitles the licensee to take any animal, bird or fish provided on the license within Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. At the time of application for a resident license under this section, the applicant shall provide a valid Wyoming driver's license or a copy thereof, or other proof of residency. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations stating what proof of residency is required so that only bona fide
Wyoming residents, as defined in W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
102(
a)(ix), receive resident licenses.

For purposes of purchasing a lifetime resident license under subsection (j) of this section, an applicant shall have been a resident as defined in W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
102(a)(ix) continuously for a ten (10) year period immediately preceding the application date.

23
‑
2
‑
201.

Fees; restrictions; verification of residency required.

(a)

Any qualified person may purchase a fishing license from the department or
its
authorized selling agents. Purchase of a license entitles the licensee to take any fish of Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. At the time of application for a resident license under this section, the applicant shall provide a valid Wyoming driver's license or a copy thereof, or other proof of residency. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations stating what proof of residency is required so that only bona fide Wyoming residents, as defined in W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
102(
a)(ix), receive resident licenses.

For purposes of purchasing a lifetime resident license under subsection (d) of this section and
except for the resident disabled veteran's lifetime license issued under subsection (f) of this section, an applicant shall have been a resident as defined in W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
102(a)(ix) continuously for a ten (10) year period immediately preceding the application date.

(f)

Any resident disabled veteran who receives fifty percent (50%) or more service connected disability compensation from the United States department of veteran's affairs may apply to the department for a resident disabled veteran's
lifetime
fishing license. The license entitles the resident disabled veteran to take any fish within Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. Application shall include proof of residency required under subsection (a) of this section, certification of the applicant's service connected disability and other information required by rule and regulation of the commission. Notwithstanding subsection (a) and paragraph (d
)(
viii) of this section, a disabled veteran's
lifetime
fishing license shall be issued to an eligible applicant without payment of any fee.

Section 2.

W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
101(
j)(vii) and
(viii), 23
‑
2
‑
201(d)(viii) and 23
‑
2
‑
306(b) are repealed.

Section 3.

Nothing in this act shall affect the continued validity of any lifetime fishing license, lifetime game bird and small game licenses, lifetime
game bird/small game and fishing license
or any lifetime conservation stamp issued under previous law.

Section
4
.

This act is effective January 1, 2015.

(END)

1
HB0129